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Topography. 



#70. Horizontal Section through the Abdomen 



below the xiphoid appendix in the pit of the stomach. 

 From a one year old child in natural size. 



The peritoneum or serous membrane of the abdominal 

 cavity, may be considered to form a shut sac, but in the female the 

 two Fallopian tubes open at their free extremities into its cavity; it invests 

 all the abdominal and pelvic viscera completely or partially, forming 

 the visceral layer of the membrane, Peritoneum viscerate; then it is reflected 

 upon the internal surface of the parietes of these cavities, forming the 

 parietal layer, Peritoneum parietale. The reflections of the peritoneum are 

 different in the pelvic organs of the male and female, but identical as 

 regards the other organs. In the male the vesico -rectal fold or Excavatio 

 vesico-rectalis is formed between the bladder and rectum; in the female 

 between the bladder and uterus (with its appendages) the anterior Excavatio 

 vcsico-uterina and the posterior, deep Excavatio utero-rectalis. At the anterior 

 abdominal wall the peritoneum forms the suspensory ligament of the liver, 

 in the lower margin of which is the round ligament, the obliterated remains 

 of the umbilical vein. Between liver and stomach the lesser omentum, 

 Omentum minus, is attached ; its right border contains the portal vein 

 and is called Lig. liepato-duodcnale. The great omentum, Omentum majus, 

 descends from the stomach and in front of the small intestines as low 

 down as the pelvis ; it then ascends again as far as the transverse colon, 

 and aids in the formation of the transverse meso-colon; further back 

 it covers the pancreas and forms the posterior wall of the Bursa omen- 

 talis. The mesentery, Mesenterium, is the broad fold of peritoneum which 

 connects the small intestines with the posterior wall of the abdomen. 



